Netanyahu approves the expansion of the illegal settlements by approving an additional 450 units

The decision provokes heavy criticisms in Palestine, Germany, and even inside Israel

On Monday, November 16, official sources reported that Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, gave the green light for the appropriation of land in order to build more than 450 homes in the settlements of Ramot and Ramat Shlomo, an area in illegally occupied East Jerusalem. The next day, Tugerman Meir, head of the Local Planning and Building Committee, confirmed that it is in negotiations for the approval of another 1,000 more housing units.

Although the appropriation had been discussed long ago, intentionally, Netanyahu delayed the start of construction until after his recent visit with US president, Barack Obama, in Washington, in order to avoid diplomatic tensions and international backlash.

Although the appropriation had been discussed long ago, intentionally, Netanyahu delayed the start of construction until after his recent visit with US president, Barack Obama, in Washington, in order to avoid diplomatic tensions and international backlash.

However, the criticism have been mounting. The Palestinian foreign minister, Riyad al-Maliki, announced he would file a complaint with the International Criminal Court, and a statement from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel’s actions because it "undermines attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict Middle East”.

Similarly the Israeli legislator Omer Bar-Lev, of the Zionist Union, considered the Israeli prime minister's attitude as “cynical” for his “disingenuous and provocative” decision, taking advantage while the world’s attention is on the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Netanyahu's practice of violating international laws and his attempts in justifying the occupation is not unusual. In late October, he retroactively approved nearly 800 units in the West Bank settlements. Although the units were previously constructed, granting them official recognition as part of Israel's urban planning was a strong and aggressive gesture in the context of the tensions between Palestinians.

The Manquehue Institute for Strategic Studies is a civic organization that pursues both the development of strategic views on main topics related to Latin American countries aimed at the local people, and projecting a faithful image of this region to the world.